A turkey farm in the German region of Lower Saxony has become the latest to be hit by bird flu, after outbreaks on a number of other holdings in recent weeks, and widespread detection in wild birds in other central European countries.

H5N8 bird flu was confirmed at the farm in Cloppenburg, the state’s agriculture ministry confirmed on Thursday. 16,000 birds on the farm will be killed under disease control measures.

The outbreaks have led to a tightening of biosecurity rules in countries including France - a major poultry producer which hasn’t yet recorded any outbreaks, though cases have been detected in wild birds in neighbouring Switzerland. Poultry fairs and shooting meets are being postponed in France, and bird keepers have been made to keep their birds indoors or under netting to prevent contact with wild birds thought to be carrying the virus.  

So far, most cases of the contagious strain of flu have been found in wild birds, but there have been outbreaks on farms in Austria, Denmark, Hungary and elsewhere in northern Germany.

The latest assessment from Defra, released late last week, shows the majority of incidences of bird flu in wild birds have been found in waterbirds, mostly gulls, swans and ducks. Experts at the environment department said they have looked at the virus strain isolated from the first outbreak in domestic birds (from a farm in Hungary), and said “The key conclusion is that these viruses to date are still essentially bird viruses without any specific increased affinity for humans.”  

Even so Defra believes there is a “Medium” risk of the flu reaching UK shores, and officials will keep monitoring outbreaks in Europe; the 18th November assessment notes “The situation is moving rapidly.”

Defra recommends poultry keepers remind themselves of the symptoms of bird flu and any suspicious wild bird deaths can be reported to the department at defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk

The government assessment warns, “The risk to poultry depends upon the level of biosecurity implemented on farm to prevent the direct or indirect contact with wild birds. It should be noted that the virus could potentially survive on pasture in wild bird faeces for several weeks at current ambient temperatures emphasising the importance of these measures.”